2018 FCSADA Academic All-Star Team
WESTLAKE, Ohio – Eastern Illinois junior linebacker
Joe Caputo was one of 47 student-athletes to be named to the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) 21st Annual Academic All-Star Team.
Â
Caputo started all 11 games at linebacker this season for the Panthers ending the year as the team's top tackler with 86. He would finish with 45 solo tackles while registering 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Additionally Caputo had three pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. In the classroom, Caputo excelled with a 3.86 grade point average majoring in both accounting and finance.
These 47 individuals were selected from a pool of nearly 100 applicants. Leading the way was the Patriot League, which placed eight student-athletes on the 2018 Academic All-Star Team. Three student-athletes from the Ohio Valley Conference were selected.
"One of the most important responsibilities that the FCS ADA has is the selection of the Annual Academic All-Star Team," stated current FCS ADA President Bill Smith, director of athletics at Bryant University. "This group of young men are some of the best and brightest football players and scholars in the country. They have been leaders on their individual campuses and have excelled in the classroom, their communities and on the gridiron. They truly exemplify FCS football and now we have the honor of naming them to the 2018 Academic All Star Team."
Football players from all Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) institutions are eligible for the award. Each of the nominees were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. They must have reached their second year of athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution and have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution. They must also have participated in 50 percent (50%) of the games played at their designated position.
